“Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla cliste.”
The Irish proverb above translates to “broken Irish is better than clever English.” This proverb reflects the sentiment that it is better to try to speak any Irish you know than to speak perfect English and that it is important to learn the language of your people, your country, and your heritage.
Do you have ancestors from Ireland? If so, the Irish language, and therefore Irish names, may be a part of your heritage.
Irish names vary from the exotic to the surprisingly commonplace. Many names that originated in Ireland have also become a part of the cultures that Irish immigrants have joined. Names common in many English-speaking countries can be traced to Ireland; some even alternative or traditional spellings. Even if you aren’t Irish, you may find Irish first names in your own family tree.
Irish Girl Names
The following names are some of the most popular girl names of Irish origin in the United States. Did you know that all of these common names came from Irish?
- Briana
Meaning: noble - Caitlyn, Kaitlynn
Meaning: pure - Cassidy, Kassidy
Meaning: curly haired - Cathleen, Kathleen
Meaning: pure - Gael
Meaning: someone who is Gaelic - Eileen
Meaning: beautiful bird - Kelly, Kelley
Meaning: red haired
Original Irish spelling: Ceallaigh - Keira
Meaning: dark - Kelsea
Meaning: island of the ships - Muriel
Meaning: sea bright - Lynn
Meaning: from the lake - Nora
Meaning: honor - Rylie or Riley
Meaning: from the rye clearing - Shannon
Meaning: straw worker
Original Irish spelling: Sionain; the Shannon is also a river in Ireland. - Tara
Meaning: hillside
The following 5 names are the most popular girl names in Ireland in 2019. Not all these are Irish in their origin. But just as Irish names have spread across the globe, Ireland has drawn influence from other cultures.
- Emily
Origin: English
Meaning: to excel - Grace
Origin: Latin
Meaning: charm - Fiadh (fee-ah)
Origin: Irish
Meaning: wild - Sophie
Origin: French
Meaning: wisdom - Hannah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: grace
Irish Boy Names
The following 15 names are some of the most popular boy names with Irish origins in the United States. As with the feminine names above, some of them may surprise you.
- Aden
Meaning: little fire - Braden
Meaning: salmon - Brian
Meaning: noble - Casey
Meaning: vigilant in war - Connor
Meaning: descendant of hounds, from the old Irish name Conchobhar - Cory
Meaning: hollow - Devin
Meaning: descendant of the dark-haired one - Declan
Meaning: full of goodness, original Irish spelling Deaglán - Duane
Meaning: little dark one - Fynn
Meaning: fair - Kieran
Meaning: dark - Liam
Meaning: with gilded helmet - Ronon
Meaning: little seal - Ryan
Meaning: descendant of the king - Shane, Sean
Meaning: God is gracious
Of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without the top 5 boy names in Ireland in 2019. Not all these are Irish in origin, but they were the names most chosen by Irish parents in 2019.
- Jack
Origin: English
Meaning: God is gracious. - James
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: supplanter - Noah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: peace - Conor
Origin: Irish
Meaning: wolf lover - Daniel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is my judge.
Irish Surnames
You may have noticed that some of these Irish names are also part of common Irish surnames. The “O” found in some Irish surnames simply translates to “of.” So the surname O’Brian means descendant) of Brian. This form is similar to many naming traditions in other countries, such as English surnames like Johnson, or the son of John, and Swedish surnames like Johansdotter, or daughter of Johan.
Irish Name Pronunciation
Today, English is the most commonly spoken language in Ireland. However, Irish is one of the country’s official languages, and it is still spoken by many people throughout Ireland as well as in parts of the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. This beautiful language is a part of Ireland’s heritage and national identity.
While it may seem intimidating at first, Irish pronunciation makes sense if you set aside the pronunciations you know from English. Irish phonetic spelling is more consistent than English letter sounds are; for example, C always has a hard K sound, even when followed by an H. In Irish, a C is never pronounced with a soft S sound. The letter G is never pronounced like a J, but always makes the guttural G sound.
The only variations in pronunciation come from the vowels nearest the consonants. Vowels are either broad (a, o, u) or slender (e, i). The An Gael magazine, an Irish language magazine, has a helpful pronunciation guide for those who want to learn more about how to read and pronounce Irish words and names.
Here are some examples of Irish names with Irish spellings:
- Aisling (ash-ling) is a feminine name meaning a vision or dream.
- Caoimhín (kee-vin) is a masculine name meaning handsome, beautiful, and kind. This name is an alternate spelling of the name Kevin. St. Caoimhín is the patron saint of Ireland.
- Saoirse (seer-sha) is a feminine name meaning freedom.
- Sonnagh (sun-ah) is a masculine or feminine name meaning a mound.
- Tadhg (tayg) is a masculine name meaning a poet or philosopher. Tadhg was number 8 on the 2019 list of popular baby names in Ireland.
- Taisce (tash-ka) is a masculine or feminine name meaning treasure.
Irish Names in Your Family
Do you have Irish heritage? Do any of your ancestors have Irish names? Even if you aren’t Irish, you may find Irish names in your family tree. Search your tree, and discover more about your own family’s history!
Source: Family Search
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